Two suspects who allegedly hijacked a petrol truck on the M7 on Wednesday are set to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court tomorrow. The men, aged 26 and 37, were arrested following a high-speed police chase after a botched hijacking.

According to police sources, the driver of the petrol truck and trailer was travelling on the M7 to offload fuel at a company in Mobeni when the suspects accosted him.

The truck driver had loaded petrol in Wentworth and parked his Mercedes-Benz truck and trailer on Leicester Road, Mobeni, waiting to enter the company’s premises.

eThekwini District SAPS spokesperson Captain Carmen Rhynes says the driver was updating his trip log while waiting to proceed when he was attacked.

“He noticed a truck with a horse and trailer parked next to him. One person exited the truck and approached him, asking if his truck was loaded. The suspect then requested assistance to speak to security about parking inside. He walked back to his truck, but moments later, another suspect approached the driver and pointed a firearm at him.”

The victim was forced into the passenger seat of his truck while the second suspect took the driver’s seat.

“The suspects drove off with the victim inside. While travelling on the M7, police pursued them, eventually intercepting and stopping the truck. The suspects were arrested by Malvern Police,” Rhynes adds.

Police recovered an unlicensed firearm, ammunition, and a jamming device during the arrest.

“The kidnapped victim was unharmed. The suspects face charges of truck-jacking, kidnapping, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property, and possession of a jamming device,” Rhynes says.

In a related incident, Montclair Police have warned truck drivers to remain vigilant, as criminals are targeting trucks transporting shipping containers along the M7. Copper thieves have been brazenly cutting reefer cables from trucks at the traffic lights on the M4 in Clairwood while drivers wait for the lights to change.